Joseph walter



(No Model.)

J. WALTER.

SPEAKINGYTUBE ANNUNGIATOR. No. 264,977. Patented Sept. 26, 1882.

7" ill WITNESSES: v If VENTOR $11k. MM

fi 0% BY W ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WALTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPEAKING-TUBE ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,977, datedSeptember 26, 1882,

Application filed July 20, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JosEPi1 WALTER, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speaking-TubeAnnnnciators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved annui'iciator forspeaking-tubes; and the invention consists of a speaking-tube having aweighted and spring-acted valve, in combination with a propeller-wheelthe casing of which has an air inlet and outlet opening into thespeaking-tube, so that the air forced through the tube into the casingoperates the wheel and causes a striker attached to the shaft thereof tosound a gong-bell mounted on the casing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation ofmy improved annunciator for speaking-tubes. Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the same, and Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a speaking-tube of the usualsize and material, which is provided at one end with a mouthpiece, B, atthe other end with a mouth-piece, B, and near each mouth-piece with apivoted flap-valve, (J, to the outer end of whose pivot is applied aweighted arm, b, and a handle, I), that is acted upon by a band-spring,W, for the purpose of retaining the valve in a part1 y-open position, sothat it offers a greater surface to the air-waves forced through thespeakingtuloe than when entirely open. A cylindrical casing, D, isarranged near the mouth-pieces B and B, which casings contain a rotarypropeller'wheel, E. Each casi n g is partiallyset into the tube andprovided with an opening, d, near the seat of the valve 0, said openingserving to admit air from the tube to the casing. The valve 0, when inclosed position, rests on the casing D, closing the space between thetube and casing and serving to'direct the air thereinto. The air thusconducted into the casing D imparts rotary motion to the propeller-wheelE, and passes then through an outlet-openin g, d, in the circumferenceof the casin g, but inside of the speaking-tube, to the latter, so asnot to interfere with the rotation of the wheel or check the incomingair. On the (No model.)

casing is mounted a gong-bell, F,in such proximity to the tube A thatthe weighted arm I) of the valve 0 can strike the same and give therebya preliminary signal. To the shaft of the propeller-wheel is attached,outside of the casing, an arm, G, carrying a pivoted striker, H.

When a person at the end B desires to attract a person to the end B hefirst opens the valve 0 by pressing upon the handle of the same andblows through the mouth-piece B, so that the air-waves, impinging uponthe valve 0 near the mouth-piece B, close the valve and throw theweighted arm 1) against the gong F, giving thereby a preliminary alarmor signal. The air then passes through the opening d into the casing Dand causes the propeller-wheel E to rotate. This rotation of thepropellerwheel causes the striker H to come in contact with thegong-bell F, whereby the announcement is made. When the person addressedreaches the mouth-piece B in response to the call he opens the valve 0by pressing upon the handle I), and thereby opens the tube A for oralintercourse. When a person at the end B desires to communicate with aperson at the end B he first opens the valve (J by pressing upon thehandle I). He then blows through the tube, the airwaves closing thevalve 0 near the end B, whereby the annunciator at the end B is operatedin the same manner as before described respecting the annunciator at theend B. Should no one respond to the signalcall of the annunciator, thevalve near the opposite end will indicate by remaining in a closedposition that a call had been made,forming thereby visible evidence thatthe party at one end had made an attempt to establish communication.After the signal has been given it is necessary that the respondingparty open the valve 0 by pressing upon its handle, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1, after which communication can be made in the usualmanner through the tube. The valve 0, on being released, is retained bythe pressure of the spring b on its handle I) in a partly-open position,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, where by the valve offers a greatersurface to the airwaves passing through the tube in giving the alarm.

In this manner an improved annunciator for speaking-tubes is furnishedwhich is equally distinctive in its calls, butconsiderably less annoyingthan the signal-whistles heretofore in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a speaking-tube, apropeller-wheel, a casing for said wheel, provided with an air-inlet andan air-outlet communicating with the speaking-tube, a bell, a strikerconnected to the shaft of said wheel, and a weighted valve adapted toclose the airinlet opening of the tube and direct the air into theWheel-casing, substantially as described.

2. In an annunciator for speaking-tubes,the

combination of the tube A, valve (Lhaving an 15 exterior weighted arm orstriker, b, a handle, I), and a bell or sounding device, E, arrangedsidewise of the tube and within reach of the arm I), so as to give apreliminary signal when the valve is closed by blowing into the tube, 20substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH WALTER. Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CARL KARP.

